Improvement in composing-sticks



iwi *Efira RENSSELAER W. THING, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND DAVID T'. PRAY, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters .Patent No. 86,257, dated .Tamm/ry 26, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters-Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom 'it ma/y concern Be it known that I, RnNssnLAnR W. Teme, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printers Oomposing-Sticks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, and the letters of reference marked thereon, in Whichl Figure l is a plan of my improved composing-stick;

Figure 2 is a transverse section throngh'the centre of the clamp; and

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively back and front-edge views of the same. y

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the views.

The nature of my invention relates to an improved ,manner of applying the clamp for holding tlie movaf blejaw of the stick at the desired point, so that no portion of the clamp shall project below the bottom of the stick, to interfere with its being placed in a level position upon a fiat surface.

Composing-sticks have been in use a long time, made with a clamp similar to the one I use, but so constructed and applied to the body of the stick that it could not be laid flat upon "a level surface, on account of the projection of the toe or hook ofthe clamp below the under surface of the. plate, of which the bottom of the stick was formed; and the clamp also projected beyond the line of the back rib of the stick, so that when placed against the V ledge on the front of the cas`e, it wouldnotlie parallel with the said ledge,

'but was liable to tilt about.

To overcome these objections is' the object of iny invention; and

It consists, irst, in forming in the lower back corner of the bodyY of the stick, a longitudinal rebate, into Which the toe or hook of the clamp ts, without projecting below the under surface of the stick; and

It also consists in extending the fixed end of the stick beyond the line of the ba'ck rib on which the clamp slides, as much as the clamp projects beyond said line, so that said projection and the clamp shall form ltvvo resting-points parallel With the back rib of the stick, by means of which the stick may be made to rest steadily when laid on an inclined surface, and resting against a ledge, as it is often necessary to do.

A is the bottom plate of the stick.

B, the back ribv on which the clamp C slides.

D is the fixed end of the stick, and

E is the movable end or gauge.

F is the lug formed by the extension of the end, D, and

G is the recess or rebate formed in the back rib B, for the reception of the toe or hook T of the clamp O.

H is a set-screw, by means of which the clamp O is made effective to hold the movable gauge in any desired position.

What I claim as my invention, and Wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The formation of the longitudinal rebate or recess G, in combination with a clamping-device,`sub stantially as described.

2. Thelug or projection F, in combination with a clamping-device, substantially as described.

Executed at Boston, this 19th day of December,

RENSSELAER W. THING. Witnesses:

N. G. LOMBARD, DAVID T. PRAY. 

